Well, welcome to the town of Deerfield Select Board Board of Health Sewer Commissioners meeting for August 20th, 2025. The time is 6 PM. This is a hybrid meeting at the main uh meeting room and on Zoom here at 8 Conway Street, South Dearfield, Mass. This meeting will be held in a hybrid fashion with the
opportunity for both in-person attendance and remote participation. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting or hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast unless otherwise
required by law. Members of the public with a particular interest in any specific item on this agenda should make plans for in-person versus virtual attendance accordingly. The meeting will be held in person in the main meeting room at Deerfield Municipal Offices in accordance with the Mass General Law
Chapter 3A. Uh, anyone attending to record the meeting must identify themselves to the clerk and provide their name and address for the record. Um, so welcome everybody and I'll call the meeting to order. Um, entertain public comment if anybody has any
anything they'd like to discuss that's not on the agenda tonight or even on the agenda tonight. You should probably do that. Anyone in If you want to um You're going to open the hearing. I'm going to open the hearing as well. It'll be I think that there's the next page. Yep. I'll do that, too.
Yep. Yep. Um no other comments. I don't see anything online. Wonderful. Okay. Our first order of business is a poll hearing tonight uh at 6 p.m. So the town of Deer Deerfield notice of poll hearing
a pole petition hearing August 20th, 2025 pursuant to general laws chapter 166 section 22 and any additions thereto or amendments thereof. The Deerfield Select Board will hold a public hearing in on August 20th, 2025 at 6 p.m. both
the town uh both at the town offices 8 Conway Street South Deerfield and via Zoom. um on the petition of the Verizon New England uh and NStar Electric DBA Eversource Energy to erect uh erect a line of poles, wires, and fixtures on
County Road in Deerfield as presented in the petition and petitions plan. The full text and proposal uh proposed petition plan may be viewed at the town of town offices at 8 Conway Street, South Deerfield. Um this hearing is also
held in a hybrid fashion. Um so I'll call the hearing to order and we have I think member from Eversource here today as well. Verizon. Oh Verizon too. Yeah. Hop on up. Great.
Introduce yourself and Sure. Good evening. Don Bonner with Verizon. How are you? Good. How you doing? Good. Uh, I you already introduced it, so I will let you know what I witnessed in the field. I just went out to the site.
Uh, took measurements. They're very, not very, they're pretty accurate to what you see, just a couple feet off in one place or another. Um, but those are measurements are fairly accurate. The purpose of the poles uh is really to keep these lines
off the roadway cuz uh especially the two southernmost poles, the the um the droop between them is about I want to say about 12 to 13 ft off the ground. Okay. Which is not good if a box truck goes through there or moving truck or whatever. Um the other one is a little bit higher.
I want to say about 15 ft but still not high enough. So, um, that is my general introduction. I can answer any questions you have. And that again, just to kind of bring that bring that hype up a little bit as the lines cross the road. That's the plan for the polls.
Correct. Okay. I've reviewed it. I I don't have any other questions, but I would open it up to the board and audience if anyone has any questions on it. I was just curious if any of the uh
butters had any comments to you in directly or indirectly. Not to me. No. And um I was out in the field taking measurements pretty slowly, I might add. Uh and there was a couple people who drove into driveways. Nobody stopped and asked, which usually does happen, but not this time.
I don't think we had any questions here either. So, the stakes are in place, too, by the way. Where they're going to be. See those? Yeah. When do you plan to do the work? Um, generally what will happen is assuming approval, I will go home
tonight and I will let the rideway manager know that it's been approved. He'll get it in the queue right away uh and it'll be next in the process. So, I would imagine uh by fall, if not sooner. Okay.
Um, hearing no other questions, I'll uh entertain a motion to close the hearing. Motion to close the hearing. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Milg I. Chairman McDaniel. I. Um, let's see. I
move the select board approve the poll petition to install two new poles on County Road to shorten the span lengths and to elevate existing wires to provide for the distribution of intelligence and communications and the transmission of high and low voltage electrical current.
Second. Thank you. Any further discussions? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Hillgy I. Trevor McDaniel I. Thank you so much. We'll sign that. Get that back to you. Thank you all. Great. Thank you very much.
Sign that totally uh off-the-wall question here. Is Verizon ever going to be able to compete with Comcast to provide internet services here? Uh wrong department. That's why I said it's off the wall.
Yeah. And off the record, uh I know they've done a lot of work recently because I've been here for several hearings and Eversource has as well. Uh I know that they're looking to improve and and to do more and keep it safe at the same time. Um there's always ways
you know what I'll bring I'll bring it to um when I let him know the thing tonight I'll tell him that you guys were asking. So great put more stuff out there. I'm sure people would like that. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming tonight. Have a good night.
You too. Um next uh next uh hearing or appearance. Uh Phyllis Fiden Kevitz. Yeah. Oh, welcome. How are you? Good. How are you? Good. Just state your name and your address and
Yep. Phyllis Fighting Kevin's 41 South Main Street, South Deerfield. Thank you. What can we help you with? Okay. Um, a tree was planted by the town on my property back in 1993,
I believe. And over the past 15 years, in the last three superintendent, highway superintendent and tree wardens, um the tree has been trimmed because it crosses my driveway into the wires that go to the service to my house.
Jim's tree service can't provide me with those records because the town hired them. And prior to Jim's, the town did it themselves. Um Jason Miller, he was a highway employee before he became tree warden and he actually got the keys from my husband across the street where he
worked to move our cars so they could do the work. Well, um I called this year because it they're starting to go over onto my neighbor's house, Blake Gory's rental home that he he's purchased and they're going and they're all through
the wires on my house and the new superintendent says that the tree is my tree. Mhm. Um, and I measured it and it's a half a foot back. And I have pictures. There is a down wire from the telephone pole. So,
there's no way they could have planted it. Um, I had one town tree fall across our cars that the town came and removed the branches immediately um because they didn't take it down in proper um time. So I just want to know what's
changed over three superintendent and Henry Kolkai I mean tree wardens what has changed that all of a sudden this is my tree that is 50 to 60 feet tall 5t from my driveway that I would have never planted.
I I can't answer what what may have changed. Um, and I I asked for records and I was re they told me the town superintendent and the highway superintendent told me probably third week in June that it was on my property,
but then they paid to have a tree arborist correct on June 2nd. Well, this is the only record I had sent in an email to the town clerk. This is the only record they can find on that tree. Yes. So, what I'm asking is where are all the
records from Drim Street Service? I thought Jason Miller was going to be here tonight. Um because see if he's online at all. No. And um so I just want to know because I certainly would not have let this tree grow 50 to 60 feet tall and maintained
it. In here, it shows that it was pruned in the past by the arborist. Yes. Around the wires, right? Yeah. And I certainly didn't do it. I'm not asking the tree to be removed. said there are a few branches. I just want them out of my service wires and out of Blake's off of Blake's roof and
that are going into his wires which have been done since the tree has been planted and now all of a sudden I own the tree. Yep. Well, I haven't been here that long either, but I I can say that um the only thing I have right now that it is on your property and it's not a town tree,
but you're saying it is and was planted by the town, so I'm not going to dispute that. I I don't have any other records. So, and there are records because Jim's Tree Service told me. I mean, well, they couldn't give them to me because the town hired them. But
the I have Michael Phillips who retired from the highway department. Uh Jason Sure. when he was just a highway um employee before he became the warden. Yeah. Um that remember coming to my yard and taking the wires or the the branches
out. But now all of a sudden it's my tree. Yeah. I can't I can't really answer that for sure. I mean, we could have done some trimming in the past, but it doesn't mean that it's still our tree. But, um, well, through three superintendent. I hear you. All I can tell you is what I
know right now is that it's not on our property and it's not our tree, but we can uh again take it under advisement. Like you said, if there's other records that prove that it's a town tree, we'll kind of research that just Yeah. And the administrator said that I may have to pay like 20some dollars an
hour for those records to be found because they're not digital. Well, that could be Yeah. Any I don't understand I anytime you have to take town time to go and research records. It does it cost some some money to do that. But um but
we'll see if we can get any further information. And what we have right now is that it's not our tree and not our, you know, not our responsibility to trim it regardless of who who's trimmed it in the past. But even though it was three town highway super Yeah. Does doesn't matter how many, but
we'll we'll try to, you know, I can I can tell you that I've researched a little bit more for you. It's the first time I've heard about it tonight. I'm not here tonight to tell you it's our tree and we're going to maintain it because it's not on our property. So, and I' I've taken the measurements. Yeah.
Um, okay. So, these pictures don't matter. None of this matters. Yeah. I mean, I've got I've got a photo. It does matter. If you have any other data that that helps us for sure. Well, I have pictures. I have of of what the tree currently now. Where the tree is? Yeah, I see that, too. I've got I've got
a we've got a photo of where the tree is. Did they put the downline? No. Well, show me what you have. I'm happy to take a look. And you mentioned that you had some document that does it have a date on it about you? I think she has this this report, right?
Is that the one the tree? Yeah. Yeah. We went to kind of take a look. Here's the down wire from my telephone pole. Correct. See, there's the tree. That's that's Blake's house. See that? Yeah. Here are my wires going from my house through the tree.
And see, here's the tree with the down wire. So, it's a foot back that I mean, they could have put it a foot closer, but yeah, here are all. And I never Why would I put a tree close to my drive? I can't answer that. I don't know why
anybody would put it there, but somebody put it put it there at some point. I know who put it there. I saw them. You saw the town do it? Yes. Okay. And my father, God bless him, was here and was telling Was it requested by you to put it in? They were putting them on the tree line
to put more trees. And to be honest, and it wasn't right, but my dad is no longer here. He had taken a weed whacker and like kind of tried to ring it to kill it because he didn't want it on. Well, it was his property for like 6 months before he gave it to me.
Um it was my grandma's house. We grew up there. Yeah. But um I also had a tree on my front lawn that was the towns that was right in line with this that fell across our two vehicles. And um the town was right there the night of the storm and then they removed it and the stump and
Yeah. I mean we we do a lot of that kind of stuff even if it's not ours but it's No, it was the town tree. Okay, I hear you. I as far as I know it's not at the moment, but I I I'm not disputing what you're saying cuz Okay. And they told me that if I were to touch the tree, so I I've already had a
12oot branch come down Uhhuh. Fourth of July weekend. And but they told me if I touch it before the board um decides then I automatically own it. So how long will it be before I get a
decision because I don't need it taking the service off of my house and I have to figure out how I'm going to come up with the money to have the tree removed. Right. And I don't even want the whole tree. I just want Can I just ask a couple questions if you don't mind? Christopher Dunan the town
administrator. So, um, has Eversource been contacted about the tree? No. And I never contacted Eversource because the town always maintained it because it was the town tree. Okay. Well, will Eversource come into my driveway and do it from the tree to my service on
the house? I'm not certain about that. Wish asked when they were online. Yeah, generally they do. I mean, anything that has wires to it, they usually What I'd offer, Phyllis, is I'm happy to reach out. We have a community liaison over at Eversource. Happy to reach out to them, just see if they're, you know,
if they can do that trimming. Um, because they will trim around wires generally. Um, and then that way, you know, we don't have to maintain it. Eversource will take care of it. And I think we might all be happy. So, I'll I'll reach out to them and see if that's a possibility and they'll do the service that's going
to my neighbor's house as well. We'll certainly highlight that for them and see if they can while they're there maybe. I mean, yeah, we couldn't we couldn't answer that, but I mean, I I think the first step, yeah, is to call the liaison and see if they would they would address it. If you're concerned about the wires and Well, I definitely because if that takes
the service off of my house, that's going to be costly, right? Yeah. And that's why the town has always just removed those and that's all I've needed, John. I I never asked for the tree to be taken down even though it's 5t off my driveway. Yeah. It looks like it's a healthy good healthy tree.
Yeah. And I'm parking between my barn and my house, my car, because there's nowhere in my yard I can park where that those branches can't fall on it. Yeah. Yep. Okay. So, well, looks like we have a a first step anyways. Take So, what the next step?
He's going to call. Yeah. I'll reach out to our liaison and just check and see if they can provide that service and then, you know, connect you with Eversource and hopefully they can get it taken care of. Yeah. Okay. And if for some reason they can't I mean is still still someone going to see that the town this is a town tree
well in the future in case it needs again it's not on town property so it can't be a town tree whether it was planted at some time or another it is not on our property so it's not like we can just assume responsibility for the
tree however others may have planted it may have trimmed it for years I hear you I you know things like So shocked. Weird things happen all the time. But I'm just saying I can't state that we're going to maintain your tree. Think of how many other trees we'd have to maintain.
Well, I understand that. But I would I would have taken that tree down many years ago if it was my tree. Yeah. It would have been smaller and easier to deal with at that time. Exactly. I hear you. Yep. Okay. So, I can expect to hear from you. We'll be nice. It' be nice to if we could get a resolution this way.
Everyone be happy. Yeah. I'll be reaching out, Phyllis. Okay. We've got your contact. Thanks for coming in with your issue. Does come down prior, I'm allowed to touch the tree. Yeah, because they told me if I touch it, it's I'm automatically owning it. It sounds like it's it's on your
property as it is. So, you could if a tree a branch comes down, you can address it. Yeah. Okay. And you don't you have my number? I I definitely do. Yes. Y All right. Great. Thank you for coming in. Yep. Appreciate it. All right. Well, thanks for that
solution. That might be a good good option. Appreciate that. Um you can call them Paul. They'll come out and look. All right. They either they'll say we'll come back next year. Yeah. But I have in front of my house. Those are in the tree belt. Yeah. And that's on
that's on town property. Yeah. That's a whole another never enough money for trees. Well, y I'm going to be confused. Digress here, but minus my those are creeping towards my house and getting close to my roof. Never mind the service. Yeah. Have to have a discussion on that.
Yeah. All right, Paul. Let's have a discussion. Let's have a discussion. All right. Just introduce yourself for the public. Yes. Thank you. Paul Oeski, 154 North Main Street. Um, so I just wanted to keep this this whole
thing with the um the steeple repair renovation yada yada yada. Um, so you the packet Paul did a very detailed and you should have had it. He also went he he he was very extensive. He even got into looking at the windows and and the
plaster and everything because the weight of the steeple transits down on and you can see it and we fought it when we had the church. You know, like I say in about 94 they went in we we church shut the uh the sanctuary down for I don't know how many months and did all the services in
Rory's Hall. We call that that site hall or where the steeple is that side the steeple. So this whole sanctuary got and then they put scaffolding and they did they didn't I don't want to say they tore things apart but basically they tried to patch and whatever the whole
walls ceilings everything and repainted. Yeah. And just the fact that you know they're still leaking up in the you know at the time in the steeple you could see it starting to transit back down. So like he said to me, the weight of that steeple transits down onto the onto the
frame onto the roof. So that's why you continue to see and he noticed it, you know, the cracking and whatever. And he sent a package on on um repair of you know the the methodology of for plaster consolidation retaching. So that's he went I wasn't expecting
that. I was just expecting very thorough. So very thorough. So basically what I'm looking at is um and I found out through the historical commission I sat in a meeting I think it was last week that uh through Ben Benson that um he did valley restoration did the repair you know
upgrading of the steeple at the first church. Oh yes up in older field. So and that looks nice beautiful. Yeah. Um, but I'm just hearing great things, you know, about this guy up and down Valley. Basically, if it's vertical,
he'll he'll work on it. Okay. So, I've just capsulized and I know we got into a few weeks, months ago the painting of, you know, the whole painting thing. So, he did throw in here and I just I just isolated just the cost of steeple
basically items one through four. Yes. Um, got about a little over 75,000. Right. Now I know you were talking about having the so he was you know and again we can obviously this this is again this is an estimate how we could you know separate and you know what's good for now and you know what's good for later
but you know even if you took off I don't know where you are with the contract on painting the front of the church but he's throwing in you know I I guess front of sanctuary is the 16,000 so I'm assuming that's the whole painting and whatever he needs to fix the very front
so you know you got the library now on one side. You're going to have the 1888 building, you know, looking good in another couple years. We got to do something about, you know, it's Yeah, if we're keeping it, it's got to be maintained
and wise move. Um, so I don't know in terms of funds, what we could do, what you guys can do. Um, you know, I don't want to I I don't like to spend money like the next guy. Um, you know, fiscally prudent Eastern European here. Um but you know there's
time money you know money is just it's worth it and um you know it's not leaking you know like I say inside it's got great bones and we have a chance to keep it having great bones. Hate to see it deterior. I just wanted to keep this conversation going. I appreciate that what we can you know like I say
isolated. So if we, you know, depending on how you had the the painting of the front of the church, you know, that knocks it down even further in terms of cuz he's even talking about taking the the leather vein off, restoring that. Exactly. I mean, it it'll look it'll look nice. Yeah, it really will. It really would.
And then a good power wash on the side with the vinyl, which we tried to do when we had the church open, but that's a Do you know what the condition is underneath that vinyl when you put it up? It was clapboard. Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was clapboard. Basically what they do is they just cover over it with that um that that silver backer
board. But it hadn't deteriorated. It was still in good shape. Because what they did back in ' 68 to raise money, my parents, my aunt were all alive. They took the the slate off the roof and then sold it to generate it was at that 200. Yeah.
And that money. So then went to because basically even then getting a guy to do slate work like I've got on my that's there's not unfortunately they're they're dying and there's not a lot of kids that are coming up through the ranks. Yeah. So I know you know I was a young kid at
the time 10 years old but I know there was a lot of lamenting you know on the maintenance and everything with the slate. So that's why they and again it was a money raiser too. When do you think that the roof was done? Six about 68. Okay. And then it was probably shingled again at some point, right? I probably was more than likely. It had
to have been. Yeah, cuz if you can get 30 years out of a good shingle, you're you done done well. It looks like it's almost it's probably done. It's probably done another another shot. Yeah. So, um Okay. Like I say, whatever you know, like I say, in terms of funding CPC is there, I
don't know grants. I mean, I'm not a big grant person, but I think what we were going to do is take this valuable estimate and information and and uh discuss it a bit with the board here, too, and then probably talk with the um town building advisory committee as well and see if we could
get it on the on the, you know, just we'd have to get it before CIPC. They'd have to go out with bids, but I think it it it helps us move that process forward, right? And like I say, you obviously you got to do the whole, but you've already got one bid and from a credible, you know, and if they want to see his
handiwork, you go up to Old Deerfield. Our question was kind of early on we were thinking about, well, you know, can we just get some paint on it so it doesn't tear anymore? And that's where that first figure came from. But maybe, you know, maybe we should just kind of
hold back and look at how do we get this funded to do it all right? If you if you look at what he's going to do, you know, on the first page, I mean, he's really doing the scraping and he's getting, you know, getting that matt that primer on there and and, you know, any, you know, slight um
dry any, you know, dry or um just get that trim fixed, right? Um that's the that's the biggest thing. I mean, the steep the steeple takes the most it gets abuse the most for sure. So, like I say, and we can like I say, I've talked to Paul. I I told him I was
going to be speaking with the board in terms of, you know, breaking this thing up. I mean, he just went in and he was he just gave us what he thought. I mean, that's that's his business. But I'm sure we could cherrypick it down to like let's just deal with the steeple, you know, items one through three, right? You know, and then if you've got
somebody already designated, you know, that painting job, but not really. I mean, it was just to kind of get an idea. So, I'd rather have somebody who knows it do it all at one shot would be good. So, it's good to have the overall cost on it. So, so I'll tell them, you know, you guys
are working it through the process, but Exactly. We bring it to Yeah. probably get it on the capital plan and see what we can do from there. Okay. So, great. This is excellent work. Thank you, Paul. Really appreciate it. All right. Yeah. Great photos, too, in here, too. You see the 1922, 1921 up there, too, on
that photo. Yeah, he did. He uh called me. He did he drove by, like I say, one afternoon and then he said, "Can I come back and do a walk through?" And he one afternoon he came and I unlocked and he spent about half an hour. Yeah. Climbed up there like I mean nothing for him but you know Yeah. he went all the way up to the bell and
beyond and uh so good. Okay. So just just so you're aware Paul um no I've been discussing um with Alex the town planner. Yeah. getting an engineering study done for
basically electrical, plumbing, floor, yep, insulation. Um, and in this bid, the one thing that I was not fully I I read it quite comprehensive. Thank you. U, there was a reference to us needing
to check with a local engineer. And so I guess this estimated engineering is just what his thought was. Yeah. Like when he's starting to get in the windows, that's where he's getting into the plaster stuff. So, I think we can sort of separate that in the windows cuz we did the windows. We replaced all
those windows around they were still alive. I want to say early 2000s. Yeah, I was going to say late 90 early early 2000s. Yeah. Um, and that was a that was a that was a chore to get that done in the fitting cuz there were several several oddball
windows size-wise. They didn't cut them all the same. No, I'm sure they didn't. No. And literally to be Oh, we can just get, you know, measure one and Oh, they all look the same. No, they're not building like that. No. Of that age. No, they weren't. So, okay. Anyway, that's great. Thank you. Thank you so
much. Keep that working. Yeah, we'll stay in touch, too. Okay. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Um any select board reports and announcements? I just want to hit on one quick thing here. Just I always like to thank you for bringing this out, Tim. So, Pilates class um elevate your
fitness with the practice of Pilates, Tuesday, September 9th. So, it's coming up pretty quick through October uh 28th from uh 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Uh instructor is Cindy von Flat Flat Flat, something
like that. Um, so you got to register by September 4th. This is over at the dees gym. It's an eight-week session. 72 bucks for residents, 77 bucks for non-residents. And you can uh sign up at um on our town website or at the recck department. You can email the recck
department as well. Uh or call 4136651400 extension 107. So sign up for some exercise. Everyone will feel good about that. Um, any other announcement? Yeah, I just want to um mention that we
had a municipal vulner vulnerability preparedness meeting earlier this week to finalize details of a resiliency workshop that's scheduled for town hall on Sunday, September 28th. We've um
through the efforts of one of the MVP members, we got bags, leaf bags from Home Depot donated to us to The goals here are to train people who live along bloody brook to not put leaf matter and any other matter into the
brook because it just exacerbates the flooding issues that that people have to deal with. Um, so this this workshop will offer an opportunity for uh North Main Street residents and anyone along Bloody Brook to learn about
uh you know what they should do. And also um I think there's going to be a separate um discussion with lawn care contractors to try and encourage them to be respectful of not putting tree limbs and you know y
and there there may be we're we're looking into seeing if we can get um somebody to donate native species to plant along the river bank the the stream bed so that they can catch leaves and stuff. Well, or just to to roots and you know, yeah, to
tie up the the bank. I had a guy um last time Carolyn put together that native species uh list listed there was u sort of willow I think um I have a really wet area and he said, you know, put a few of these. They
suck up a ton of water so would help help a lot and like you said, support the ground with roots. And Greg is going to have this posted on the town website. It's I was just going to mention it's already you can find it in the latest news on the homepage. It's already there and and it's on the calendar. So,
sounds good. Anything Blake you want to hit on or you good? No, pretty much. Tim, uh I know you guys are talking about getting some extra help when you got into those brooks. You were looking to see if there was going to be some extra help going through there to help the homeowners.
Well, yeah. I mean, we kind of talked to Matthew Morris about whether there's any um any uh can they arrange a pickup, you know, so that people who are elderly and maybe they they can't pick up these heavy bags. And then there's also some discussion, although I don't think any
progress has been made on seeing if we can get uh you know, volunteers or high school kids to volunteer to help. Well, it's I I just talked to a couple of them this week and these guys are having problems getting into college because they don't have any community service. I think we need to
discuss this with Frontier and see if we can get them out there. Exactly. Yeah. Well, with school just starting, it'll be a great opportunity with everybody writing their stuff. Yeah. And we can talk to them about like when you work tobacco and when you work. Exactly. And like you're on your iPhone.
Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Thank you. All right. Um so uh next item would be the public health excellence uh grant statement of commitment. Um so this is I think is this a yearly probably a yearly thing while the grant is happening. This
is the um Valley Health Regional Collaborative. Um the lead agency or municipality is uh city of Greenfield. So this is um kind of just stating our commitment to the grant to cooperate with the lead uh municipality to ensure
compliance with the scope of the services of the grant. Um use the funds and services provided by the grant only uh to augment rather than to replace current municipal funding for the public health uh staff and adhere to any and all terms of requirements for the grant
program. So, I would um I have a motion here to uh I move the select board in its capacity as board of health endorse the statement of commitment for the public health excellence grant. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion?
Oh, just want to say that um this service is, you know, pays dividends all the time and uh gives us backup for when Ned Seiski and the health agents are not available. I know we're getting some title fives done
um and so yes, absolutely good thing to do. Also a great source of uh information when you're calling up there trying to get some information about things that are happening. Yeah. Yep. Um I'll maybe just get Oh, so do all those
in favor? Do you have We had a second, right? All those second. Yeah, he seconded it. All right. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Milchi I. Trevor McDaniel. I maybe I'll get with you to figure out where to sign after cuz there's a few different spots. I don't want to mess it up. Um
so that one is done. Um let's see. I moved that the select board approve the minutes as presented for um August 6th. I just can't believe like we've had a meeting and the minutes are already here at the next meeting. Like we are on it.
Second. Thank you. Is there June 9 as well? Uh, no. I just have August 6. It's the only one. I got an older agenda. Maybe maybe an old agenda wasn't replaced. Okay. All right. No, I just got August 6 is the only one I saw and I read it. It looks good. Yeah,
we have a second. All those in favor. Blake Gilmore. I Timi. Trevor McDaniel. I Thank you so much. Yeah. June 9th. Those were probably. Yeah. So, we have some discussion items. uh
scheduling an 1888 groundbreaking event. Do you want to anybody want to talk about that? And it's on the agenda just to see. Sure. Happy to talk about it a little bit. Um so as everyone's aware, we we signed a contract with WJ Mount for the the low bidder on the 1888 building project. We
had a little kind of soft pre-construction meeting uh last week um which everyone walked away from. Very pleased with uh you know the quality of them as a contractor. And uh so at this point, you know, we're just waiting on um USDA to get back with, you know,
approval of everything and and obligation of funds. Um we'll have a pre-construction meeting with their team and then we're hoping to yeah have to at that point do a groundbreaking. Um and I know uh as I I said yesterday, I think in a text to to Greg, WJ Mountford is champion of the
bit to get in there. Um and uh I think likely a little shortly after Labor Day hopefully we can arrange an event um just to kick things off and uh be nice. Yeah. Find a find a golden shovel or shovel we can paint gold. That's right. Um can we can we throw a a shovel on the
the cane or something? I don't know. Something like that. P3, you know, has the hard hats and the shovels. Oh, good. That's right. Oh, they do. Okay, great. They did that for the library. Oh, nice. Nice. Let's see. Do that again if we can. That'd be great. Okay. So, we'll wait to hear on that. Um, we have
uh FURCOG CPC planned contract extension from September 30th to December 31st, 2025. So, it looks like they just need a little more time and this is uh FKOG's working with the CUNI preservation committee plan I think to kind of talk
about. Yeah. So, I believe this is a state requirement that correct, you know, all CPC community or CPA communities are supposed to have these plans. Um, so I think we contracted with Vercog earlier in the year and Yeah, correct. They just need a couple more months. Yeah. Yeah, sounds good. So, I'll make a
motion here. Um, I move the select board approve the contract extension with Furcog for the community preservation committee plan from September 30th, 2025 to December 31st, 2025. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? All
those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Hilchi I. Trevor McDaniel. Great. Um, then we have a notice uh of award to Fort and Painting for the Town Hall 8 hate Conway Street painting project in the amount of $11,350.
And that was to kind of clean up the fasc. Um, you know, we're not going heavy on the building. We're just kind of trying to keep it from falling apart. And it really, you know, we haven't we haven't touched up painting for a very long time. So, it's it is time. So, I'll uh
make a motion here. I move the select board award the painting project for the town hall 8 Conway Street to foron painting in the amount of $11,350 and authorize the town administrator to sign the contract. Second.
Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blakemore. I Tim Hilchi I. Trevor McDaniel I. Thank you very much for that work. That'll be nice to get that cleaned up for the fall. Um, so we have expenditure of transportation
network company fees. This is huge money, guys. Huge money. I wish we were Boston because it'd be 3.8 million, but Deerfield gets $175 $174.30. So, I have a motion here and I'm not
really sure how if we can spend it all in one spot, but yeah, the thinking here was just Brenda identified an account um that Matthew uses for, you know, his road work and essentially just stick the money in there. So, use it up. Okay, great. So, um and just to kind of
make it clear, this is just money that the town receives for Uber rides. Um, I think the state gets 20 cents, we get half of that, so we get 10 cents a ride. It it added up. So, uh, you know, but,
uh, here we go. So, I move the select board approved the expenditure of the transportation network company fees in the amount of $174.30 on transportation related infrastructure projects. Uh, account number 0014250.
Uh, excuse me. 5400 530-0. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Hillgi. Trevor McDaniel. I. Great. I'm zipping through this, guys.
Um, we have a Franklin Land Trusted one-day liquor license uh request for August 22nd and 23rd. And I I would request we wave the permit fee because this is a fundraiser. We do that tend to do that every year uh for them. This is
R2-D2 I believe or Franklin Land Trust. They do this bike ride and stuff every year. So um we have a a motion for both days. Um one is for the Dirt Church Brewing Company and then the other's for
uh Birkshire uh Birkshire Brew. So, um, I move the select board approve the request for the Franklin Land Trust for two 1-day liquor licenses, August 22nd and 23rd, and I wave the permit fee for this fundraiser.
Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I, Tim, I. Trevor McDaniel, I Great. So, there's a there's two in there. It just signed the one where it's waved. So there's there should be two
and you can sign the one where it's the waves the fee. We'll take care of the other one. Uh let's see. Got four signatures there. Six. Uh, yeah. I think that's And then there's another one there to sign as well.
Well, I think Oh, sign if it's not waved. Got it. Sign those. Yeah. Yep. Okay, you're good. Good there. Um Okay, great. So, I'll pass that on to you after. And then we have um so this I think is the uh yeah first
read here of the allowance of on premise wine and malt beverage license holders to trade their licenses to an all alcohol beverage license pursuant to mass general law chapter 138 section 12D. And from what I understand um on
this is that uh the governor legislature had had allowed um this leg this legislation to allow current on premise wine and malt sellers um to to be able
to trade in those licenses to allow them to sell all alcohol. Um, we have certain caps on our uh licenses depending on what type of alcohol license it is. This this uh from reading this and leaving reading Lisa's
um our attorney's kind of um information on on this uh there it doesn't change the cap. It just allows that person, that entity to um to to kind of upgrade or, you know, do an
all liquor license instead of just wine and um malt. This legislation, if we wanted to take advantage of it, it's not something the select board has the authority to do. We would take it to town meeting. So, town meeting would vote on this. I guess for
us it's really a first read to kind of discuss and see if we would want to put this on fall town meeting with fall town meetings coming around. This this this advisory came out from our attorneys. So um anybody want to weigh in on whether we should shouldn't.
Um I I just don't think that it's I don't think that it's it's worth anything for this because you're not going to increase the amount of liquor licenses. what you're going to do is get rid of beer and wine licenses and everybody serving full alcohol.
Yeah. Because it it did say that you you weren't um just because you transferred people over to an all alcohol, it doesn't mean it freed up more wine and malts that are available for people. Um yeah. Is there any difference between
the fees the town receives for I mean I'm sure it's very small if it is um or a full alcohol license versus or is that just when people apply it's more expensive to apply for anyone know about that? I'm sure it's
$15 difference. is it is an all alcohol on premise is uh $2,323 and an um a wine and malt on premise is $800. So it is a big expense that is yearly and
so I don't see anybody rushing down there, right? I don't think and that was the thing I think when when Zach's came before us um you know I think they're the only ones other than Treehouse who already has um ability. I mean, they aren't looking to sell I don't believe
they're looking to sell all alcohol there. They're doing their their beer and and I think some distilling, which they already have permitted for. Zach is the only one right now that isn't all is a wine and malt on premise. And I don't they weren't really interested in doing a large I think mainly some of it was
the fee and just you know having having to all that inventory. It's not just selling. It's it's having to buy all of that inventory and have it on hand. And you know, I'm sure there's a lot more um stringent requirements and stuff. You know, it's it's trickier when you're
mixing drinks and all that stuff versus just selling, you know, a bottled something that's already there. So, I think it was to give just give uh establishments that have beer and wine only just flexibility. You know, I I agree with I think in in larger cities
and things like it might make a difference because it would bring in more business and that I think was in the spirit of it. Yeah. And I think we really again we only have one. Um I think you know let's talk about it next meeting and see if you know when we get to doing the doing the um
warrant articles we can decide whether we want to put it on there or not. One of the questions I have Christopher is that I know that there's towns that are down off of the Cape that have districts. In other words, if you have a like we have here is South Deerfield, Deerfield, that
sort of thing. There's supposedly liquor licenses that can go into those districts. Is there anybody we can contact at the ABC BCC to get a get an answer for that? We can we could certainly look into it. Yeah. Okay.
My understanding was all of our caps just apply to the town, but Yeah, I think they do. Yeah. But I think it would be a separate you'd have to set it up so that South Deerfield would apply and then Deerfield would apply. Yeah. Um, and then I'm curious if maybe
Pat could reach out to Zach's to see if there is any interest on their behalf and seeing they're the only ones, right? Um, just curious. I mean, if you know if it's something they were really want I mean they I I think they could still do let's see.
I thought we still had one. Yeah, there is there already is five available, so they could always do that anyways, so it's not holding them back. Um okay. Yeah. So we'll move on. Um meeting is long enough. Let's see. So
So did I understand you you you think that entity X that has a wine and and malt liquor? Mhm. Um if they upgraded, does that wine and malt liquor go away or or there are set number of malt liquor wine and a set
number of full alcohol? Yeah, there those those caps from what I read are still there. Um so we we it doesn't change them or they don't go away. They just they just have that ability fully occupied at this point. I mean
we are for um let me just beer and wine the beer and wine I think. Yes. And all alcohol there are five available. Yep. So it wouldn't free up anybody. Uh it wouldn't free up others. But it
what I'm what I'm getting at is um if we have 15 total and five of them are beer are all alcohol and 10 of them are beer and wine and somebody goes from beer and wine and takes one of the vacant all alcohols, does that free up beer and wine? It does not.
Okay. So there's there's just a set number. It is. And we're saying that we're full. We are. We don't have any vacancies whether it's full or beer and wine. Correct. Well, for full, we do have vacancies. Well, that's what I'm getting. Yeah, they we already do have to confuse
you. If they go to a full, that means they're taking a full. And so, does that open up a beer and wine? It does not open up a beer and wine unless they specifically wanted to. I I don't think through this program or this legislature it doesn't open up one, but
if on their own they wanted to forego that separate from this legislation. I think if I have this right, we could ask Lisa this. I I think we'll we'll put together some hypothetical scenarios for when we talk about putting this on the warrant because there are five all alcohol available. They could just drop today
and go and that would free up one. But I think just but just transferring this from what I read from Lisa, just transferring does not open up anything. Yeah. It doesn't make sense. Correct.
Because that eventually, let's say five beer and wines um want to switch to full. They do it and we lose five beer and wines, right? If we don't do it, we we have those to give out. So, I think it's good we started this now so
we can really clarify this before any special time. We got till November 3rd to figure it out. So, read Lisa's thing. That might some light on it, but I I try to avoid reading lawyers treatises just for that reason. Ask him a direct question.
Yep. Uh okay. So now we have uh Franklin County Saw Waste Management District'sUS of um a memorandum of understandings. Uh so I would make some motions here because we got se several to do. Um so I
move the select board approve the the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District's memorandum of understanding as follows. Hauling of recyclables and disposal of solid waste, bulky waste and scrap metal and appliances.
Third party inspection of the transfer stations. Household hazardous waste collection and hauling and disposal of sludge. I have a second for those. Second. Any questions? So yeah, I just wanted to ask about this
table um attachment A. um get to it here. Are these all the fees that we currently charge or these changed from the previous year? That's a good question. Oh, yeah. I don't know if they've
changed from the previous years. They usually do fluctuate. Yeah. Based on bids that she gets. Um and does is this one the is sludge in this one or is it sludge? It is its own it's its own uh
item. I think it's the last one. Yeah. Y cuz that one's got a lot of flexibility. I'm sure it's getting more expensive. It It is getting more expensive. Yeah. And it depends on the quality. It doesn't really have a It has the transportation and disposal fee, but not
like how much per ton because it fluctuates depending on what sludge percentage weight is that time. So, so I will mention that at our um meeting with uh Matthew Morris on Friday, our standing DBW meeting, he did mention he
had received some correspondence from Jan. Um and it does sound like the hauling and recycling disposal costs have gone up quite a bit. Um so we'll likely have some more information on that um at the next meeting. I know he was, you know, we were looking at that
other facility at that time, you know, partway through the contract and um I didn't know if he had I know Jan was looking at that when she was pulling this together and I know she had done research and it sounded good at first but then finally like all in it was
pretty much the same. Um so and you know again LOL's the only one to take it. They do have the Monu but that's very rare. Um I did see in the paper they you know sometimes people think about oh why don't we just sell it to farmers put it on the field but with PAS um there was a
big article in the paper the other day I guess Maine is struggling with this now too um where there's so much PAS in everything we eat and potato fields potato fields any root vegetable yeah full of full of pas right um so
anyways um just a couple of questions and I and I fully think don't really have any alternatives to this. Um, are we limited on how much Monagu will take? Yes. So, we can maybe bring one load there
versus five somewhere else. I think I recall some discussion about that. Yes. It really depends on their capacity and what they can have open at that time. And it is pretty rare that they'll take it. And there was also I I rem I don't remember if it was in a meeting or there
was some discussion about uh maybe this is the alternative where they reduce the water content so that you're not trucking water. Was that something that we were considering? Is that something that Matthew was
We we do a lot of that. there is um there is a process in in which we do we they thicken it and that kind of thing. So um it's one area of that plant that we
haven't really there are there is a sludge separation tanks and stuff that we did not do when we did all the upgrades. Um it was just more money to do and so we had to draw the line somewhere. But I think that there is with the systems that we have,
we are getting as much out as we can. But there might be I think I remember you saying there was like a thickener drum or something like that was using I I can't remember. But we can ask Eric. I'm sure he has Eric Meals. I'm sure he would know. Yep.
So sorry about all that. That's okay. No, good discussions. Motion and seconded. Yep. We have a motion and seconded. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Milchi I. Trevor McDaniel I. And let me just see if there are
items in here to sign or these all. Here they are. Good thing we're not robo signing. Exactly. Call us in the question. All right. So, okay. So, we have some Oh, a request to
have an annual townwide tag sale day on Saturday, October 4th. Okay. We do that every year. I think Pat handles all those fees and all that stuff. So, um, I move the select board
approve the request to hold the annual townwide tag sale day on Saturday, October 4th, 2025. Second. Um, for discussion, I can't remember if we waved the fee on
that one day or not. Did no idea. I think we did. I feel like we do that one day, but I maybe I can check with Pat. Yeah, she'll know. If Yeah, we'd leave. You know, if you
need to do that, fine. Uh I guess, you know, I I was barely here by that last year, so I have no idea. Yeah, exactly. I I I almost feel like we have, but I but Pat would know for sure because she she does does all that every day, every year. So,
okay. So all those in favor, Blake Gilmore I. Tim LG I. Trevor McDaniel I. Okay. So then we have um that's all done. Okay. Sewer abatements. Um I had gone
over these with Greg and just want to nail these down. So, um, 42 Street, I've held on this one a couple of meetings because there was some information that we were trying to gather from the water department. We've
got that information. Um, we've done the calculations. So, um, I would make a motion to approve. Do you have them already listed out here? Oh, but you don't have the amount. Okay, great. Uh so um I move that the uh
the board of sewer commiss commissioners abate the sewer bill for 42 street by the amount of $878.32. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I.
Tim. Trevor McDaniel. I sign that here. While you're signing, I just want to make an observation that uh on the uh solid waste management district. Deerfield is the second highest fee at $5,000 and it's only
hazardous. Yeah. Yeah. It's only $500 less than Monagu. And yeah, they have 8 8,500 people and we've got 5,000 people. So, I'm just wondering why. I can't remember what that was. Is that because they they handle some of
this stuff in their own town and so they're seems odd. Was our budget? Yeah. Um I think a lot of it had to do with how much we recycled. Um I don't think it was a charge to us
though. Correct. What is that? I think it was like how much because we we recycle so much in this community compared to others that the budget to manage that was high. It was almost like was it was like a resolving fund or something. I just know that you know we go through
this too up in Gil. And I I think it's actually a a sort of conversation you have with the town about how much do you want to pay in in accordance with how much you think is going to actually show up and be used. Exactly. It's not so much a uh charge.
Yeah. A charge as it is a sort of negotiated because we recycle so much. We do a good job of recycling that that our fees are higher. Y it's almost like a revolving fund. Think about it like that. Um
okay. The next was I move the board of sewer commissioners debate the sewer bill for 32 Grave Street in the amount of This flipped over here. Um $25056.11. Second. Any further discussion? All those in
favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim I. Uh Jordan McDaniel I was 2561. Okay. I move that the uh board of sewer commissioners abate the sewer bill for
19 Keller Drive by the amount of $5904. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Milchie. Trevor McDaniel. I
bells and um I'm going to recommend we do not abate 6 Elm Street. Um I've looked at this. We've sat on it for a couple of meetings. I don't see any
reason. Um, it's in line with other times. It's actually way less than other months. Um, I'm not sure if those numbers that were super high other months had been abated for another reason. So, sometimes you'll see an anomaly in a in a thing and we've
abated it. Um, but these uh six Elm Street just seems to be in complete um in line with all the other work. Um, and I didn't see anything that caused it to need an abatement.
Okay. In my mind. So, I'm going to recommend we um pass on that. Okay. Um, let's see. Okay. So, those are done.
Unless anybody else has anything else to say on that. No, just want to make sure I'm not doing this all on my own. So, um, that's a good question. I think to be safe, you might want to just vote zero amount. Yeah, just vote to deny it. Okay. So, just so it's on record.
Thank you for that. Um, I make a motion as the sewer commissioners to um to deny the abatement for uh 6 Elm Street uh bill number 7550. Second.
Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Milchi I Trevor McDaniel I um let's see. Okay, so we have um board and committee application general appointments resignation. So
regretfully we're we're uh um accepting the resignation of Tim Drumul from South County EMS as an employee representative on the personnel board. I can't remember if we already accepted his resignation. We did already, right? from South County. It's that this is actually supposed to
be for both. From South Oh, for both. Okay. It wasn't wasn't sure if we did one already or not. Yeah. Um I just So I'll make that motion for a second for discussion. Second. Um and I just want to thank Tim Drumul
for his service to South County EMS. I know he's staying on as a pdeium. uh he had had a wonderful opportunity in Northfield to uh to advance his career and um I can't speak highly enough of his professionalism um his help through transition while we
hunted for a um a chief south county EMS chief um and I just I wish him the best and um and then we'll we'll obviously need to h find uh an employee representative for the personnel board but um anyone else want to say anything
all those in All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Elche I. Trevor McDaniel I. Um and then we have um let's see here. So I move the select board appoint Kyle
Bet as assistant superintendent to the Department of Public Works. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? Really happy to have Kyle on board. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Elchi. I
Trevor McDaniel. I uh I also move to um I move the select board appoint Chad Leinsky as heavy equipment operator for the Department of Public Works. Second. Any further discussion? Happy to have Chad join our team as
well. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Hilg I. Trevor McDaniel I. Um let's see. I move the select board appoint the following election workers for the term of September 1st 2025 through August 31st 2026
for unenrolled uh Paul S v Santino Margaret Mitch uh Mitchkolski Pamela Mary Fisk Judith Kundle Olivia A Leone David Robinson Julia B Kvako
John S McKenzie Moren A. Casey, Mark E. Pette, Nathan, uh, Nathaniel. Yeah. Is it Natalie? No, thank you. Natalie McCormack, Irene Helen Clancy, Margaret Z. Nardowitz,
Terry Anne, uh, Yusco, uh, Lori Lynn Carney, David B. Grace, Sharon Apachuric, and Adam Sakaloski. Second. Thank you. Uh, I'll do these in
order then. All those in favor? Blake Elmore. I Tim G. I Trevor McDaniel I for U Democrat Kathleen Mary Styer uh Andrea Leapson Penelopey Antonet
Antonet uh Tarski Terasukal with names Teras I guess. Thank you Katherine T. Uh Bert News. Bert News. Nice job. Very nice job. Well, this is a team
effort here. Jane Jane Osborne. Uh Frieden Lun. Frieden Lun. Thank you. Jaxi Willin. Willin. Uh Martha Miller Grace. There you go. Second. Thank you. All those in favor?
Blake Kilmore. I Tim LG. Jeremiah I. and under Republican Raymond John uh Berniski Jr. second. Thank you. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Chair McDaniel I jumped the gun there. That's all right. Okay, great. So that's done.
We got apologize if I've murdered anybody's name. We do have someone at the end of that list resignation and that is um we Margaret Peg. Okay. and she has been with the uh
election workers for a very long time. Yeah. And she's decided to retire. Okay. Well, we would grant her that. It's not a resignation. It's a retirement retirement. Well, we grant her that. Always been available and has done an
excellent job. And this is coming from Cassie. Cassie gave me this. Wonderful. Wonderful to have that. and that she also said, "Even though I'm retired, if you need me, I will come." Oh, that's wonderful. So, well, that's it's just so important to
have residents step up to do these super important things, especially our elections. We can't run a town without it and, uh, can't have a democracy without it and very grateful for her. So, um, so have a motion and, uh, second. All those in
favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Milchie. Trevor McDaniel. I thank you so much Margaret for for all your service. Um we have some uh let's see correspond. We have letters of support. We have the Northern Tier Rail. Um
I would uh let's see. It's here somewhere here. Yep. Do you want this read into the record just so people understand what we're doing? I can't can't hurt, right? I'll I'll zip through this quick enough. I We're doing pretty good, right? I told
you an hour. We're not that far over. So, or you could just say as presented. As presented. I know, but I feel like when we do this stuff No, no, I'm fine. It's important, right? Because people need to know what we're what we're working on. Oh, would you? I'd be happy to. I would love that. Thank you.
The Honorable Shawn Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, US Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast, Washington DC. Dear Secretary Duffy, I'm writing to express the town of Deerfield's strong support for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's MASDOT application to
the Federal Railroad uh Administration's corridor identification and development corridor ID program for the Northern Tier Corridor. MASDOT is seeking 500,000 to advance planning and development activities that will help lay the foundation for expanded intercity
passenger rail service along this critical route. The corridor travels along the northern edge of Massachusetts from Boston in the east to North Adams in the Birkshars in the west. This area has long struggled with higher rates of poverty and much more limited public transportation than other parts of
Massachusetts, which has prevented economic growth. Passenger rail west of Fitsburg, Mass in this corridor ended in 1958. More recent investments along the corridor with the support of federal funding have resulted in extended commuter rail service as well as the
construction of a train layover facility in Westminster and the Wuset commuter rail station in West Fitchburg. Extending the service even further westward will strengthen regional connections, support economic growth, and provide more reliable, safe, and
accessible transportation options. The corridor ID funding will help move this effort from concept to construction, enabling shovelw worthy projects to become shovel ready and ultimately underway. This project reflects the values of the US Department of Transportation. Prior prioritizing real
benefits for children and families, breaking ground on transformative in infrastructure, leveraging innovation and technology, and investing in rural communities that have long been left behind. Expanding passenger rail through the northern tier corridor will reduce commute burdens, expand job access, and
deliver safer travel options. Deerfield is a key location along the proposed route, specifically near the East Deerfield Railard. The Northern Tier Rail will enhance Deerfield's tourism, equity, economic growth, and opportunities and sustainability. We
appreciate Massdot's leadership and collaboration, and moving this corridor forward and urge the Federal Railroad Administration to fully fund this proposal. The town of Deerfield is committed to supporting this initiative and contributing to the development of a modern transportation network. Sincerely, Deerfield Select Board.
Thank you so much for reading that. Super important. So, I'll make a motion. Uh, I move the select board sign a letter of support for the Northern Tier Rail Second project. Thank you. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim LG I.
Trevor McDaniel. Hi. Um, okay. So, next we have the I think it I think it was just me, but I I thought we should have all No, shouldn't we have all signatures on this? Yeah, it's got our three names, but it's funny they it doesn't have it was a
template. We We can We can print out a revia signature page. Feel free to add the signatures. Yeah, we'll just add the signatures. Just add the signatures. Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. All our names are there. They might send it back because Trevor's the only one who signed.
Yeah, that's fine. Thank you. Um, then we uh I'll make a motion to I move the select board to sign the letter of support for the designation of Deerfield River as National Wild and Scenic River. Second. Thank you. I know you wanted to take some time and you had had a chance to
talk. Fine. I talked to Chris. We're all good. Okay, great. I just needed some more explanation actually wasn't there. What's I know, right? It was just Yeah. I don't know why, but it it had three things. You know, I thought they were I should have read that part more clearly.
Yeah. Um Okay. So, any this this is uh approving the uh Deerfield um the Deerfield River wershed um wild and scenic river designation. Y all those in favor? Blake Gilmore I.
Tim LG I. Trevor McDaniel I Oh, I will sign this one. Yes. And don't think we need to read it because we had a whole presentation last time. So, sorry guys. Uh, okay, that's good. So, uh, next is a
well, I'll make this motion for discussion. I move the select board sign a letter of support for Treehouse Brewing Company Half Marathon on Sunday, September 14th, 2025. Second. Thank you. Um, so we normally have Treehouse here to discuss. I know we're
I think we're at the point where we we kind of know what what this um Can you can you talk to the other I I think I I was in Allison Masley is usually here but she's
in Seattle. Oh, she is. And um she mentioned that um I think the fire department and the police department. Can you talk about what's been signed off? Yeah. Well, just that. So, uh, Treehouse got in touch last week just to request. I think they do this every year for the
marathon, you know, letters of support front the select board, uh, fire department, uh, and, uh, you know, the, uh, police department as well. And, uh, Chief Aurich and and Kurt Seaman, the deputy fire chief, uh, you know, got touch very quickly with their letters of support. Um, so we figured select board
be happy to, uh, provide theirs as well. Yeah. So, so generally, uh, the first year kind of was bumpy. I think the second year, this is the third year. So, the second year made huge strides in in community outreach, um, planning, the
road closures, all of that stuff, uh, really got improved and they had a liaison, people to kind of communicate with. There's an email you can get in touch with people, questions during, uh, you know, prior or to the race day and then there's there's a phone number to
call if you need any information. So, um I feel and especially if if the fire department and um police have have looked at this and they're they're happy with it, I'm happy to make the motion. I just I mean I would add that I I attended the the sort of pre,
you know, prear half marathon meeting. Oh, good. With with the fire department and police and Yeah. and they're and Treehouse's communication person who's going to be sort of the point point person for this and they you know they started very early. They great
um you know they anticipate it's going to be even a smoother run this time. No pun intended but yeah but uh yeah it that they started it even earlier preparing and I think that's why they got those support letters so quickly and and we'll we can get probably get
this up on our web page too because it has a list of Yep. and they they've sent around a little mailer and it includes a map of the course and then also road closures by time. So, we'll get that up on the website for sure. Perfect. Perfect. Okay, great. So, I move the select board sign a letter of
support for the Treehouse Brewing Company's half marathon on Sunday, September 14th, 2025. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim LG I. Trevor McDaniel. Um,
I've exhausted all my motions. I told you. Wow. Hour and 15. Not bad. Um, let's see. Oh, we do have one other thing that was unanticipated. uh which was the signing for the um EDM's
um extension of their their uh contract to do the feasibility study for um South County Senior Center and studying the billing of 112. We had a meeting on this on Monday. Um, so I would uh I don't
have a motion, but I would I would make a motion to approve the extension uh amendment to the contract for EDM Studio Inc. for the design services for the project known as South County Senior Center feasibility study between the town of Deerfield and EDM Studio Inc.
Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Blake Gilmore I. Tim Hilg. Chair McDaniel. I And I think um
and I just will mention that um the planning board asked about uh you know our intent to take the idea of having this building looked at as well um to the BU and and then perhaps you know revisiting
this depending on what the BU recommendation is to the various towns. Okay, sounds good. Um maybe I'll make make a motion to have you signed. Yeah. So my motion would be amended to uh have the town
administrator sign the contract. Second. Thank you. All those in favor? Blake Gilmore. I Tim Milchie. Trevor McDaniel. I thank you. I don't know if you have a copy already. Yeah. Okay. I'll keep this in my packet then. Y
Okay, great. Um, anything else anybody want to hit on? I'll just give a quick update. Um, so we did have a personnel board meeting last night. Um, and I we, you know, most of the focus of the meeting was setting our sort of work plan for fiscal year 2026.
Um, so we're going to have at least four meetings on the books. Um, and some of the areas of personnel policy that the board is going to be focusing on include uh scams just in general. We know that's kind of a been a question. How do they gel with our personnel manual which is
obviously written for a different kind of employee for the most part. Um so we'll be talking to members of the boo and and Josh about that. Okay. Um and then also uh looking at you know vacation policy overall. Um where do we stand with respect to other towns?
Um and then I think health insurance also is a question that of course we're all thinking a lot about. Um, so you know, the the uh the board will be meeting again um if not sooner, at least in November to to go over the um you know, the annual cola question um and
then hopes to have some recommendations on policy changes um coming before the select board later in the spring. So, uh just wanted to provide that update and see if there are any questions on any other town projects or um you know ongoing items from the board.
Great. Yeah, we had a big update from you on Monday. I know. It feels like No, it was got it all out. That was a very impressive list of the projects that were on progress on. And I will just say once again, it's it's good that we have a great team because it is a lot of projects.
Yep. Um Okay. Any other anything else to discuss and entertain a motion to adjurnn? Uh no, but see you at the car show. Oh, yes. Tomorrow night. It's a Yeah. Great, great, great uh comment. So, we have the South County Senior Centers um
doing their their information night and car show at the Sunundan Elementary School. Amazing. Tons. It was supposed to be tonight, but with the weather, tomorrow night will be much better. Um but yeah, all kinds of food and information and really cool cars. So,
please come out and check it out. Get some good info. Thanks for the reminder. Motion to adjurnn. Thank you. Second. All those in favor, Blake Gilmore, I tilgi I McDaniel I. Thank you all. Have a great rest of your week.